When was the last time you saw someone seriously rethink how a motorcycle seat functions and operates? To our knowledge this design from Brit Brothers is the first real attempt to rethink what our butts have known all along. With its eye catching design, and roller-style seat, Brit Bros says their seat has numerous benefits over your standard foam wrapped in vinyl garden variety seat, including the ability to help tame a high-side crash. Photos and more after the jump.
The Brit Brothers’ design centers around a series of rollers that are connected via a gear and shaft system. This design means that not only can the Chicane Saddle add variable resistance the further you shift your body position over the rolling surface, but it can also dampen sudden changes, as would occur during a high-side. Additionally, the whole system is tunable to a rider’s specifications and tastes.
Brit Brothers also cites improved aerodynamics and conservation of a rider’s energy, since the Chicane saddle allows a rider to remain tucked into the bike and slide themselves into a desired position, rather than lifting their butt and setting it back down. Valid, albeit minute, points, but we like it just because it looks cool.
Press Release from Brit Brothers:
For almost a century the motorcycle seat has seen little advance in either its design or function. And yet the modern rider experiences more movement across this area of the bike than any other. The result is a compromise, where each rider must learn to overcome its shortfalls by sacrificing aerodynamics and energy. To address this issue, the Brit Brothers have developed the ‘Chicane Saddle’ – A motorcycle racing seat designed to harmonize rider with machine. The innovative design incorporates toothed belts and tapered rollers which rotate under the riders weight. Combine this with inbuilt recoil and friction controls and you have a racing seat which can be individually tuned to the riders needs. The result allows the rider to achieve a smooth, arc-like, motion through corners and chicanes.
When cornering on a fixed seat bike the rider is forced to rise up, and out of the aerodynamic bubble. This can slow down and unbalance the bike. Although modern riders train themselves to overcome this shortfall, it is, nonetheless, a shortfall. Our intention with the Chicane saddle is to allow the rider to remain in contact with the seat for longer periods, remaining inside the bikes aerodynamic bubble.
During the course of a race the rider uses valuable energy to shift their body weight through corners. Consequently the rider becomes increasingly tired and fatigued. By employing recoil and specifically placed rollers, the Chicane Saddle aids the transfer of body weight through corners by up to 20%. This leaves the rider stronger and prolongs endurance.
A “High-Side is when the bikes rear wheel regains traction after spinning. The result can catapult the rider off of the bike. Because the Chicane Saddle allows longitudinal movement across the saddles surface it absorbs some of the aggressive sideways motion which occurs during a High-Side. We believe this might be the difference between the rider being able to catch the bike, or not.
Source: Brit Brothers via Visordown